Did you know the Mariners eyed former Mets boss Carlos Mendoza before he accepted Philadelphia’s third‑base coach role? ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported Mendoza entered the Seattle search but pulled out to join the Phillies.
The Mets dismissed Mendoza in late June when the club sat 13 games below .500. He stayed a free‑agent coach until season’s end, then stepped in for Anthony Contreras as the Phillies’ third‑base and infield coach.
Dan Wilson guided Seattle for two and a half seasons, delivering a 90‑win campaign in 2025 and an AL West title, the franchise’s second postseason since 2001. The 2026 campaign faltered, leaving the club 10 games under .500 and third in a weak division, and Wilson announced he wouldn’t return in 2027.
In my view, Mendoza would have offered Seattle more seasoned leadership than the club’s past hires. After Wilson’s exit, Seattle eyed experienced managers like Diamondbacks boss Torey Lovullo, though he re‑signed with Arizona. While Mendoza lacks a long coaching résumé, he would still have brought more managerial experience than Seattle’s previous candidates, who, like Wilson and Scott Servais, had never managed in the majors before their roles.
With Mendoza and Lovullo off the market, the only known contender is former Astros manager Joe Espada, who received interview permission on Tuesday, a day before Houston announced his contract wouldn’t be renewed. Espada guided the Astros to two division crowns in three years before falling in the Wild Card round each time. Will he steer the Mariners back to the postseason in 2027?